Instrument grinding device



Feb. 3, 1942. T. J. wALDRoN 2,271,810

l INSTRUMENT GRINDING DEVICE I Filed June 28, 1940 Engr] .n IIIII Patented Feb. 3, 1942 unimo STATES Aralarl price INSTRUMENT GRINDING DEVICE Thomas J. Waldron, Allentown, N. J.

Application June 28, 1940, Serial No..343,029

6 Claims.

Still a further object is to provide a portable,

adjustable device for grinding dental tools and the like.

Another object is to provide a simple means for holding the dental tool steady relative to the sharpening stone.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description thereof and from the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 shows a top plan ofthe dental tool sharpening device attached to a tray and embodiesthe principal featuresof the invention,

Figure 2 shows a sectional view taken along the lines 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a front elevation of the tool sharpening device attached to a tray,

Figure 4 shows an enlarged sectional detail of the ball and socket swivel joint which is adapted to receive the dental tool to be sharpened, and

dental Figure 5 shows an enlarged sectional detailv of the dental hand piece carrying the sharpening stone.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral I indicates generally a clamp adapted for firm attachment to a tray 0r table II. Said clamp comprises a back portion I2 provided with two spaced apart ears I3 extending laterally therefrom. In the preferred form the ears I3 are provided with humped portions I 3a adapted to snugly engage over the lip of a dental tray or the like.

Extending laterally from the lower end ofthe portion I2 and vertically spaced from ears I3, is a member I4 which is apertured at the outer end thereof to receive a threaded shaft I adapted to threadedly engage through said aperture and a downwardly projecting internally threaded bearing I6.

At the upper end of the shaft I5 is mounted a circular member Il preferably provided on its upper surface with a cushioning layer of rubber or the like I8 to engage the underside vof tray I I.

Mounted on the lower end of the shaft I5 is a winged tip nut I9. Rotation of the n'ut I9 brings the cushioning layer I8 into closer position or further from the under side ofthe tray il to tighten or loosen the clamp I0 relatively to the tray I I. Y

On the side ofthe portion I2 oppositely disposed from the ears I3 and the member I4 of the clamp I`,.is disposed means, generally indicated at 20, to clamp the dental hand piece 2| into a secure position.

The means comprises a bar portion 22 extending substantially across the back of portion I2 in abutting relation therewith throughout its length except for the outwardly extending offset lug 23 which is proportioned to receive the dental hand piece 2l.

The bar 22 at one end thereof is hingedly secured, as at 24, to a separate piece of metal or the like 25 which is anchored to the portion I2 by screws or. the like 26. At its other end the bar 22 is recessed to receive a threaded shaft 21 mounted in the member I2 and extending outwardly therefrom. A winged-tip nut 28 threadedly engages said shaft 27 and rotation of the nut 28 in a clockwise direction securely xes thebar 22 into abutting relation with the portion i2 to firmly hold the dental hand piece 2I` in upright position within the lug 23.

In the preferred form of this invention there is a semicylindrical vpiece 29 mounted on the member I2y .with its open end outward. Said piece 29 is of smaller diameter than lug 23 and ts therein when the bar 22 is locked into posi- 'tion to more securely hold the dental hand piece 2Iv upright.

The dental hand piece 2l is a standard piece of equipment used by dentists and per se forms` no part of this invention. Mounted upon one end of the piece 2i is small wheel `2Ia recessed around its periphery to receive a belt,l or the like, `connected to a source of power, such as amotor. The wheel 2Ia is keyedfto a shaft 2lb by a small bolt 2Ic extending through a nut 2id. The shaft 2lb extends through and is supported by bearings 21e disposed in a casing 2U. Rotatably mounted on the other end of shaft 2id is a stone 2 Ig, of the type used for sharpening dental tools. To insure against any vibration of the hand piece 2| during the sharpening operation, cotton or other cushioning material 21h may be packed around the piece 2i within the lug 23. The amount of material 2lb used depends upon the relative diameters of the lug 23 and member 29 compared with the diameter of piece 2|'.

A cylindrical hollow member or guide 30 is mounted on the portion |2, at one end thereof, and having the axis thereof substantially parallel to the axis of lug 23. The member 30 is proportioned to receive a rod 3| which is adapted to slide therein. The said member 30 is recessed intermediate the ends thereof to receive a nut 32 which threadedly engages therethrough to lock the rod 3| relatively to the member 30. dental hand piece 2| and the slidable `rod 3| are parallel and substantially in the same vertical plane when the clamp I is vertically xed into sharpening or grinding position.

Mounted upon the upper end of the rod 3| is the dental instrument holding swivel means comprising two ears 33 proportioned to receive a swivel ball 34 and held in place by the screw 35 which firmly holds ears 33 against relative movement.

The swivel 36 has a hole 36 through its center of suicient diameter to receive a dental tool 31. Extending at right angles from the hole 36 is another aperture which is internally threaded to engage a screw 38. rIhe instrument 31 is locked into position by manipulation of the screw 38, which has its head substantially flush with the surface of the swivel ball 3d when the said screw 38 exerts pressure upon the tool 31, thus permitting the ball B to freely move in all directions.

In the operation of the invention, the dental instrument 31 is disposed in the hole St of the swivel ball 34 and locked into position by turning the screw 3B. The screw 32 is unloosened to permit the rod 3| to freely slide in the member 353. If a long bevel is desired the rod 3| is lowered so that a greater surface of the point of the instrument 31 contacts the stone 2|g. Once the desired .bevel is ascertained the screw 32 is turned to lock the rod 3| in place.

The stone 2| is rotated, as by a motor, until the point of the instrument 31 which engages the said stone is sufficiently sharpened at the proper bevel.

The dental hand piece 2| is easily removable from the clamp it through hingedly attached bar 22 which is swung outwardly. This feature permits the easy substitution of dental hand pieces having stones of different abrasive or grinding characteristics.

The dental instrument 31 is easily removed after grinding by elevating it away from the stone 2 ig, relieving the pressure of screw 3S thereon, and withdrawing the said instrument from the ball and socket joint.

It is to be understood that the various parts of this invention may be constructed of materials such as iron, steel, plastics, or constructed in a modified form without departing from the spirit thereof.

It is therefore desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool sharpening device comprising, a support for attachment to a tray or table, means carried by said support adapted to receive a sharpening stone, a cylindrical member carried by said support and spaced from said rst mentioned means, a rod adapted to slidably engage The through said cylindrical member, means to lock said rod within said cylindrical member against relative movement, a ball and socket joint disposed at the upper end of said rod, said ball being centrally recessed to receive the tool to be sharpened, said ball being further recessed, and locking means engaging through said second recess to lock said tool in place.

2. In a tool sharpening device, means for holding the tool during the sharpening period comprising; a ball and socket joint disposed on a slidable member, a lock for said slidable member, said ball being centrally recessed to receive the tool to be sharpened, said ball being further recessed, and locking means engaging through said second recess to lock the tool in place during the sharpening period.

3. In a tool sharpening device, means for holding the tool during the sharpening period comprising; a ball and socket joint mounted on a slidable rod, a` lock for said slidable rod, said ball being centrally recessed to receive the tool to be sharpened, said ball being further threadedly recessed at right angles to said iirst recess', and a screw to engage said threaded recess to lock the tool in place during the sharpening period.

4. In a tool sharpening device, means for holding the tool during the sharpening period comprising; a ball and socket joint disposed on a slidablev rod, a cylindrical guide for said rod, means to lock said rod relatively to said cylindrical guide, said ball being centrally recessed to receive the tool to be sharpened, said ball being further threadedly recessed at right angles to said vfirst recess, and a screw to engage said threaded recess to lock the tool in place during the sharpening period.

5. In a tool sharpening device, means for holding the tool during the sharpening period comprising; supporting clamping means having two laterally extending arms in horizontally spaced relation and a third laterally extending arm vertically spaced from said first arms and provided with a recessed portion, adjustable means engaging through said recessed portion adapted for adjustment relative to said horizontally spaced laterally` extending arms, stone holding means pivotally secured to said clamping means oppositely disposed from said horizontally spaced laterally extending arms, a cylindrical guide carried by said clamping means and spaced from said stone holding means, a rod adapted to slidably engage through said cylindrical guide, means to lock said rod within said cylindrical guideagainst relative movement, a ball and socket joint disposed at the upper end of said rod, said ball being centrally recessed to receive the tool to be sharpened, said ball being further recessed, and locking means engaging through said second recess to lock said tool in place.

6. In a tool sharpening device. means for holding the tool during the sharpening period comprising; a ball and socket joint disposed on a slidable member, a lock for said slidable member, said ball being recessed to receive the tool to be sharpened, said ball being further recessed, locking means extending within said second recesato engage said tool, and said locking means being disposed within the area limited `by said second recess.

THOMAS J. WALDRON. 

